Tomlinson: A Rationalization

by Crackback on Mar 12, 2010 8:00 PM EST

My intial reaction to his potential signing was um... lets say... lets just say I was less than excited about the prospect. But after thinking about it for a bit, I've come to the realization that perhaps my judgment was too greatly influenced by my prejudices against him (which I won't get into but largely center around the riding of an exercise bike) and I took less into consideration his actual capabilities and his ability to contribute to the Jets.

So (swallow the vomit)... Why would the Jets' acquisition of LD be a good thing?

1) Signing LD for TJ-type money signals to the team that the breakdown in negotiations with TJ probably had more to do with playing time and carries than it did about money. Its a business for the players too, and you want them to feel like their hard work will be rewarded. You're sending the simultaneous signal that they will get paid if they deserve it, but at the same time no player gets put before what is best for the team.

2) Its been widely reported that the Jets feel that LD would be a great 3rd down back. Which is interesting because we already have a 3rd down back in Leon on the roster. This signing might make teams more inclined to separate themselves from a second round pick if they believe that they can sign Leon relatively cheapley. And the Jets are less likely to match an offer if they have a 3rd down back on the roster to replace Leon and are receiving a 2nd round pick in this draft.

3) LD is a running back out of TCU who played for the Chargers. If he's on board and we draft a Jerry Hughes (TCU) and a running back, then we have a HOFer mentoring our young RBs, a TCU alumn that Hughes could seek advice from, and a familiar big brother for Cro.

I am still dead-set against this move, if its made, if we intend to go into the season with Leon on the roster. But if Leon goes elsewhere, then the signing of LD makes some sense.

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Comments

   I got caught up in the injury thing too. And I know exactly the image in you head of him sitting on the stationary bike. It pissed me off two. But It deff gave me a false representation of him.
   You make a good point with the team having two 3rd down backs. But while that is deff LD’s skill set. I still think this team would use him on every down. Subing him in for Greene completly and giving him entire drives not on just 3rd downs or on short passing situations. Say Greene runs for two series’ and gets winded. LD gets the third. All the while Washington is being used on punt returns, 3rd downs, and wildcat plays untill he proves he is 100% and works his way back into the gameplan on a regular basis.
At this point with Wash’s tender and horrible injury. I honestly think that the jets are not considering him a part of the team at the moment. They can’t. Too many things could go wrong with his rehab delaying his return and his tender is easy for a team to pick up if they think Leon can bounce back 100%. If that were to happen and we didn’t sign a veteran RB we would probably draft a RB like Gerhart. So our depth chart at week one could potentially be Greene(second year) Drafted rookie and then Chauncy Washington.
   With Leon unhealthy or traded this team will be in desperate need of a veteran leader in the backfield. LD is the best chance at protecting a worst case scenario.
   Mabye another FA would be a better bet but I also think Woody is putting in his two cents because he’s thinking of all the PSL’s and jerseys he can sell for his new stadium.

by colinyoung on Mar 12, 2010 10:08 PM EST reply actions

I agree with your second point. I think LT would just be an insurance policy for Leon, plain and simple. If we sign him, I’m hoping someone else extends an offer to Leon. I’d still want another tough back in there.

by random122 on Mar 12, 2010 11:07 PM EST reply actions

Rationalization is the right word, Crackback, my friend. Number 1 is true, but that doesn’t justify blowing that money on a vastly inferior player. As little as I like the thought of signing him to replace Jones, the thought of him being Leon’s replacement, number 2, makes me sick. Number 3 is valid, but being a nice guy and a good mentor isn’t a good enough reason to sign a guy.

If it’s 5 years ago, I’m thrilled right now to have him. He’s done, though.

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by John B on Mar 12, 2010 11:19 PM EST reply actions

Lol. Cmon JB im trying to find a way to get this to sit right. And there you go makin sense.

by Crackback on Mar 12, 2010 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

I am far from excited about obtaining him, especially if he is making TJ money.

Darrelle Revis once won a game of Connect Four in three moves.

by bm01bath on Mar 13, 2010 12:01 AM EST up reply actions

I think he still has some in the tank.

1. Great route runner, and still makes people miss in the open field.
2. Very good pass blocker.

by Jerrad p on Mar 13, 2010 12:11 AM EST reply actions

LT with T-rich

i think people will be suprised to see what LT is capapble of with a top-notch blocking FB, his seasons with Neal in SD produced those amazinf years he had, and i think that if he got to work with t-rich, he would have an amazing season, and may emerge as our backfield leader, if indeed green doesn’t develop in time, and washington hasn’t recovered, or has left. i can understand peoples feelings about TJ, and i feel the same, but completely writing off LT based on his performance over the last few years, with a team that is no longer dedicated to making him part of the offense, is a poor assesment of someone i believe is still an excellent player, and has some good miles left.

by ControlTheMind on Mar 13, 2010 10:24 AM EST reply actions

Even if he did have a renaisance year, it wouldn’t be anyhwhere near what TJ did for us just last year. LD hasn’t shown life in about 2 years now. I was all for dropping TJ bc, with the money he wanted, I thought you could get better production out of Greene and a good rookie. But it seems we’re about to spend TJ-money on a guy who can’t produce as much as TJ probably can.

Yes LD will probably have a better year behind our line than he did in years past, but you can say that about ANY back if you put them behind our line.

by Crackback on Mar 13, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

I think

LT would have ran for 1400 last year, if playing for the Jets, given the same opportunities Jones was. He has more speed and more elusiveness then TJ. SD just doesn’t care about running, and their line sucks at blocking for the run.

"Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring; besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. It's more democratic."
- CRASH DAVIS

by nrmax88 on Mar 13, 2010 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

I honestly don’t think he can still take the kind of beating that TJ took, but if he could, he’d probably be able to get a similar amount of yardage considering how often we gave him the ball.

SD’s o-line definitely sucks at run blocking.

by random122 on Mar 13, 2010 5:58 PM EST up reply actions